Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 25, 2014 News
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, and Parliamentarian,
Dr. Karen Cummings have declared that they are willing to work with the government to develop a strategic plan to guarantee an effective response to the Ebola threat.
They are of the view that the government is currently displaying a lack of preparedness to respond to any possible threat of entry of the Ebola Virus.
Dr. Norton and Dr. Cummings have said that they are requesting a meeting with President Donald Ramotar on the matter. Given the international attention and alarm over the virus, Dr. Norton said that when it comes to having such a meeting with the President, his coalition simply does not have a choice.
Dr. Norton made this declaration yesterday at the APNU’s weekly press conference which was held at the Hadfield Street Headquarters of the Leader of the Opposition.
The Shadow Minister of Health reminded the media of President Donald Ramotar’s most recent broadcast which “did not go far enough.” Norton said that the President and his Government are still to convince the population at large that the administration is ready to deal with such a health threat.
He also chided Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who he said was warned of the gravity of the public health threat, but has only reacted slowly.
Norton said that the Ministry of Health, as in the case of the still raging Chikungunya disease, failed to promulgate a comprehensive plan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Norton said, gave a sweeping directive in September to Guyana’s embassies and consulates, “…not to issue visas to nationals from West African countries.”
The APNU Shadow Minister said that this move was “unfocussed and unhelpful.”
Norton told the media that his coalition is dissatisfied with the uncoordinated, unsatisfactory and ad hoc responses announced by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.
He identified protection, prevention and surveillance among certain preventative measures.
Surveillance must be improved at formal ports of entry at which legitimate passengers could be screened, he said.
He said that the well-known backtrack routes must also be closed. The country, Norton said, must construct ‘retention centres’ at ports of entry for quarantining and monitoring persons who are suspected of having been exposed to the virus.
The second measure was community engagement and social mobilization. The APNU Parliamentarian recalled that President Ramotar had promised “… to seek maximum cooperation” and to invite “leaders of all parliamentary political parties and civil society to join forces with the government in a national response to prepare and protect our people from the deadly Ebola disease.”
This is still to happen.
Norton highlighted the need for attention to also be paid to containment, coordination and control. He said that there has to be a single national plan of action to coordinate the efforts of the Government, civil airlines and the population.
He said that this is necessary to oversee the activation of neighbourhood, regional and national public health response and to recruit, equip and train volunteers.
He said, too, that the government must act quickly to acquire sufficient medical supplies including personal protective equipment such as face shields, masks, goggles, gowns and gloves, in order to be better prepared to protect the population.
Dr. Norton said that there must therefore be early diagnosis of infection and prompt supportive care. He added that there must also be good laboratory services, case management, contact-tracing and safe burials.
He emphasized that the Ebola Virus knows no borders in modern countries. “It could affect urban, rural and hinterland populations. The entire nation needs to be educated and engaged about the danger of the disease,” the politician added.
Dr. Norton asserted that the APNU is prepared to work with the Government and civil society in order to achieve this goal.
Dr. Cummings also stressed that as a nation, “Our approach has to be proactive. This is everybody’s business.”
Dr. Cummings said that while APNU has been on its Local Government campaigns, the opportunity has also been used to achieve that goal and educate citizens about the virus.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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